The Hollerin’ Contest has been held for 47 years in Spivey’s Corner, and celebrates old-fashioned farm calls from the days before cellphones. There are four basic calls.

“It does take a lot of lung capacity,” said Frye, who has won it 10 times. “You can’t yell from your throat. It’s kind of like singing amplified – big –time.”

In fact, some startled travelers at Raleigh-Durham International Airport got a feel Wednesday morning for just how much lung capacity it takes when Frye belted out a good morning call on live television.

Many in the airport turned and started pointing as Frye went through her routine for CBS North Carolina’s Lauren Haviland.

Also performing Wednesday on live TV was Goodman. Goodman said he was “born and raised on a farm” and won the junior hollerin’ title in 1978.

Hollerin’ winners have long appeared on CBS’ late-night programming. Johnny Carson, for example, often had hollerin’ champs on his show.

However, the Colbert visit is bittersweet. Organizers of the National Hollerin’ Contest in the North Carolina crossroads community say the annual event has been suspended because of increasing costs and decreasing participation.

Contest fundraising committee chairman Aaron Jackson said it has been losing money for the past several years.